You’ve made your New Year’s resolution, you’ve gotten your bathing suit ready for your cruise. It’s time to relax, enjoy, and par-tay! But with the endless days of lounging by the pool and unlimited 24 hour buffets, they say the average cruiser puts on 10 pounds in a week. Yowza! That’s not cool. When I…
Caribbean and Central America
Chichen Itza Mexico – 5 Things Not To Miss
Aruba Jeep Safari
During our latest cruise on Carnival Vista, I was excited to visit a new-to-me destination: Aruba! Just off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is a Dutch island with rocky, desert-like landscapes along the northern side, and sandy beaches and coconut palms along the southern coast. With such a variety of picturesque landscapes, we booked the…
Dining and Shopping in La Romana
7 Reasons To Get Excited About New Dining Experiences On Carnival Vista
There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to dining experiences on Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Vista. All of my favorite restaurants that I experienced on Carnival Sunshine are there and are even more well integrated into the new ship’s design — like a sort of deliciously enticing restaurant row. There’s sushi at Bonsai…
Carnival’s Chef’s Table: A Sneak Peek Behind The Scenes
Browsing through the dining options on my last cruise, there was something new I didn’t expect to see — Carnival’s Chef’s Table. I’ve had this sort of meal in restaurants and resorts, but I hadn’t experienced this type of interactive dinner on a ship. Turns out, it’s not just dinner, but a multi-sensory experience. We…
A Day In Old San Juan
On my recent Carnival cruise, one of our destinations was San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was my first time ever visiting Puerto Rico and I was pretty excited to spend a whole day exploring this historic city. While there were several fun excursions offered, my friend, Suzie, and I were most interested in trying out…
Carnival Sunshine: Seven Days Sailing Around the Western Caribbean
Helpful Tips For Making The Most Of Your Cruise
Weekend Getaway To The Dominican Republic
Today’s guest post comes from luxury expert and lifestyle blogger, Kara Franker! She recently jetted over to the Dominican Republic for a weekend getaway. Here’s her story … Weekend Getaway To The Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo Located on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, in a charming coastal town called La Romana,…
The Cultural Side Of Cancun
Cancun certainly has a reputation for fun. With mesmerizing blue water, soft sandy beaches, and notorious parties makes it pretty popular among the spring break crowd. In fact, it was actually one of my first international trips when I was a college student. But there really is so much more this area has to offer…
Top 5 Reasons To Visit Curacao
Living in Florida I’ve been to the Caribbean dozens of times and experienced first hand the pristine white sand, clear blue turquoise waters, and picturesque views that are typically only seen on inspirational wall calendars. And as relaxing as it might be, I can only sit by the pool and stare at the beach for…
Mole Poblano
The word mole originates from the Aztec word molli, meaning something smashed or pureed into a sauce. In the case of mole poblano, roasted chilies and vegetables, burned tortillas, intriguing spices, and chocolate are blended into a sophisticated topping for a multitude of dishes. The flavor profile is a complex tapestry of smoky chilies, garlic,…
Eco-Retreat In Costa Rica
Recently I was asked, “What is the best vacation you’ve ever had?” It’s a tough question to answer, since each trip is different and has its own unique experiences, self discoveries, and fun foods to try. Often, my sense of adventure and love of anticipation for a new journey has me replying, “any place I’ve…
Caribbean Style Chicken & Rice
The main staple for all Caribbean cooking is chicken and rice, or, arroz con pollo. Every country and region has it’s own version and the subtle changes and nuances in preparation really do make each one taste a little different. (I think there’s a multi-country chicken and rice cookbook idea there!) Driving through the country…
Flying Nature Air In Costa Rica
Making Chocolate in Costa Rica
Ever wonder where chocolate comes from? Here’s a peek! Along the border of Costa Rica and Panama is the River Yorkin, where an hour-long canoe ride will take you to a Bri Bri community that grows cocoa in the rainforest. While visiting with the Bri Bri community, we went hiking for cacao, learned how to…
Equus Curacao – Best BBQ On The Island
On a recent jaunt to Curacao, I scurried off the plane, quickly checked into Kura Hulanda Resort and immediately jetted over to one of the most popular restaurants in Curacao for dinner — Equus. The reason for my hurry? We were visiting the island just for the weekend and Equus is only open on Friday nights….
Top 5 Exotic Fruits To Try While Visiting Central America
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is visiting the local grocery stores for a little cultural immersion and to purchase some unique souvenirs. Sometimes my favorite treats aren’t always items you can take back home with you on a plane, such as exotic fruit. While traveling to Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize,…